Power pressure controlling device



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F. A. LITTLEFIELD.

POWER PRESSURE CONTROLLING DEVICE.

N0. 534-,6-55. Patented Feb. 26, 1895.

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'F. A. LITTLEFIELD. H POWER PRESSURE UONTROLLING DEVIGE.

No. 534,655. Patented Feb. 26, 1895.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets Sh eet 3. r F. A. LITTLEFIELD. POWERPRESSURB CONTROLLING DEVICE.

No. 534,555. Patented Feb 26, 1595.

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' UNITED Sma t es anion.

FRANK A. LITTLEFIELD, OF PEPPERELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PEPPERELL MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

POWER PRESSUIRE-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,655, dated February 26, 1895.

Application filed April 19, 1893. Renewed July 25. 1894- Serial No. 518,592. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LFRANK A. LITTLEFIELD, of Pepperell, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Power-Pressure-Controlling Devices for Oalendering and other Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts. a

This invention relates to devices for setting rolls of calender and other machines together with greater or less pressure to thereby regulate the surface of the paper or other web passed between them. 4 I

At the present time, so far as known to me,

the only means of setting the rolls of a calendering machine together with the required pressure, is by means of a hand wheel or other manually operated device which requires frequently the combined strength of two or more men to operate in order to create the requisite pressure.

In calendering paper or other web, particularly the higher grades, it is frequentlynecessary to stop the machine and relieve the pressure from the rolls in order to remove some defect, as a thread or the like, which would injure the web or the rolls if permitted to pass through the machine. After the ma chine has once been stopped, however, it must be again set in motion before the rolls can be -set together under pressure, for it would be impossible to start the machine from a period of rest while the rolls are set together. The

7 rolls must, therefore, be set together gradually after the machine is set in motion. Each time the machine is thus stopped it requires a very perceptible time to again set the rolls together under their former pressure after the machine is again set in motion, and during this time the paper or web run off through the machine must be discarded as not having the requisite finish or surface, such a surface not being produceduntil the rolls have been again set together with their former required pressure. This same operation must be again gone through with whenever the paper or web for any reason breaks, it being then necessary to relieve the pressure of the rolls in order to again pass the web between the latterthrough a stack. Again, it is very difficult to set the rolls together always with exactly the same, pressure, the result being that the quality of paper or web produced by the machine frequently variesto a considerable degree.

This invention comprehends a power device for setting the rolls of calendering and similar machines together with greateror less pressure whereby the operation may be accomplished more easily and quickly than is now possible with the manually operated devices.

The invention also comprehends inechan plied, the device itself, however, located at the right of the machine being omitted. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the power device by itself; Fig. 3, a vertical section taken on the dotted line 00-51; Fig. 2; Fig. t,a detail showing the construction of one of the clutch memhere; Fig. 5, a perspective detail of some of the parts shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6, a modilication to be described.

I have herein illustrated my invention in connection with a paper calendering machine, and referring to the drawings Fig. l, A, A, represents the vertical support or frames of a calendering machine of usual construction, the same being-provided with the rolls B,B, journaled in suitable boxes made vertically adjustable in the side frames and pressed together with greater or less force by threaded shafts actuated by the toothed wheels b driven by pinions b on the ends of the vertical shafts b3 journaled in suitable bearings on the said frames. The shafts b at their lower ends are provided with bevel gears b in mesh with and to be rotated by like wheels fast on the horizontal regulating shaft 19 journaled in the bearings b on the side frames, and at one of its ends provided with the hand wheel If, all of which are and may be of usual construction common to machines of this class as now found in general use.

The present method of setting the rolls together is by rotation of the hand wheel b grooves in said arms.

which, as before stated, frequently requires the combined strength of two or more men. In accordance with this invention, however, I provide a power mechanism to accomplish this work, the same in the particular embodiment of this invention shown, consisting of an operating shaft 6 journaled in suitable bearings in the frame E, said operating shaft e being connected with the regulating shaft b of the Calendering machine by any suitable clutch, as e, so that rotation of the operating shaft will cause like rotation of the regulation shaft.

Upon the operating shaft 8 at its middle are mounted two bevel gear wheels f, f, shown as keyed to the sleeves 7r, 71. loosely journaled on said shaft e, said bevel gear wheels being arranged facing each other and in mesh with the common driving pinion f Fig. 2, fast upon the shaft f journaled in suitable hearings f in the frame E, said shaft f being provided with a driving pulley f belted and driven in any suitable manner, rotation of the shaft f causing rotation of the bevel gearsfif, in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows.

The sleeves h, h, at thei: outer ends are shown provided respectively with disk-like heads W, 71 upon which are formed suitable clutch rims or flanges h, h, which, therefore, rotate with the gear wheels f, f, and might if desired form integral parts thereof.

Keyed to the shaft e between the gears f, f, and the frame are like sleeves m, m, which at their ends adjacent the frame are provided with diametrically opposite arms m m provided with dovetail or other suitable guideways for the clutch blocks m m which are adapted to be moved radially toward and from the axis of the shaft 6, in suitable The clutch blocks m at their outer ends are provided with inclined surfaces m upon and between which and the interior faces of the flanges h, 71, are placed the friction rollers m normally maintained at the lowest end of the inclined or cam surfaces by springs m These clutch blocks and rollers are moved outwardly or spread to engage the tlanges h, 71, by means of adjustable toggle links r2, n, jointed at their outer ends to the clutch blocks and at their inner ends to ears formed on the sliding actuating members shown as at sleeves n n mounted to slide upon the sleeves m, m, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The longitudinally movable sliding sleeves n n, are shown threaded exteriorly to receive the co-operating non-rotatable longitudinally movable clutch releasing members 0, 0, which, as shown best in Fig. 2, are each provided with oppositely extended arms 0 0 connected at their outer ends by links 0 forming in effect a rigid frame 0 carrying the releasing members 0, 0', so that the movement of either releasing member causes a like or opposite movement of the other. A handle 19 pivoted at p is jointed at p to the said frame and furnishes manually operated means whereby the said frame may be moved in either direction as desired, for a purpose to be hereinafter specified.

The operation of my improved device is as follows, viz:Assuming the calendering machine to have been stopped and the paper or other web passed between the rolls and the machine again started, it is necessary to .set the rolls together with the necessary pressure to cause them to produce the proper surface upon the web passing between the rolls. This I accomplish by my improved device by moving the handle 19 to the left, Fig. 2, which causes its opposite end to move the frame 0 to the right, such movement of the frame acting through its clutch releasing members 0,0, to slide both sleeves n m to the right, Figs. 2 and 3, the movement of the sleeve "n to the right serving to withdraw the clutch blocks m farther out of engagement with its flange h, while the movement of the sleeve n to the right spreads its toggle links it and throws its clutch blocks m outwardly against the flange h on the continuously rotating gear wheel f, causing its rollers m to become wedged between said fiange and the inclined or cam surface m of the clutch blocks to thereby cause the said flange h and clutch blocks to rotate in unison, rotation of the clutch blocks carrying with them their guide arms m and sleeve m keyed to the operated shaft 6 cansing like rotation of the operating shaft and thereby the shafts b and b and wheels I) to set the rolls together. It will thus be seen that when the clutch blocks m are moved into engagement with the flange h on the gear wheelfthat the said gear wheel, flange, clutch blocks, and sleeves m and n together with the operating shaft all rotate in unison, and the sleeves n and m, the arms m and clutch blocks m are likewise rotated by and in the same direction as the operating shaft. The clutch releasing members 0, 0, however, are non-rotatable. Therefore, immediately as the sleeves n n begin to rotate with the operating shaft, the threads on said sleeves cause the clutch releasing members 0, 0, and frame 0 to travel to the right, Figs. 1 and 2, rela tively to their co-operating members m, m, until the clutch member 0 strikes the collarr adj ustably secured upon the operating shaft 6, which prevents further movement to the right of the said clutch members and frame. The rotation of the shaft, however, and of the actuating members or sleeves n a within the clutch releasing members continues, and as the latter cannot move the former must move, the result being that as soon as the movement of the clutch releasing members is stopped by contact of the member 0 with the collar r, the further rotation of the sleeves within said members causes the said sleeves to immediately be moved to the left into their normal positions, thereby drawing the clutch blocks m out of engagement with the flange h, and disengaging and stopping the rotation of the operatin g shaft 6. The rolls having been pressed together, the web continues to run between the same until a defect is reached or until the web breaks, when the machine is stopped and the lever 19 thrown to the right, Fig. 2, such movement of the lever causing its opposite end to move the frame with the clutch releasing members 0, o, to the left Figs. 2 and 3, thereby moving the sleeves n a also to the left and causing the links it of the sleeve n to be spread and to move their clutch blocks m outwardly into engagement with the flange h on the continuously rotating gear wheel f, causing the latter to communicate its motion to the sleeves m, n and thereby to the operating shaft e to rotate the latter in an opposite direction from that in which it was rotated by the gear wheel f, thus rotating the shafts b b and the wheels I) also in an opposite direction to cause them to relievethe pressure from the rolls of the machine. Immediately upon rotation of the parts in this direction, the releasing members 0, o, begin to travel as before but in an opposite direction owing to the opposite direction of rotation of the parts, such travel of the said mem- 'bers continuin until the arms 0 0m thememon the frame, said stops preventing further ure to produce movement of the frame 0 and members0,-0', and causing the sleeves n a still rotating within the said members 0, o, to be moved bodily to the right to disengage the clutch blocks n from the flange h and stop the rotation of the operating shaft e. As soon as the defect has been removed and the web again run between the rolls, the machine is started up and the lever p thrown to the left to cause the bevel wheelf to rotate the operating shaft e in the direction of the arrows and thereby set the rolls together with the necessary pressthe proper surface upon the web. 1

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the gear wheelsfif, rotate continuously in opposite directions; that the clutch releasing members 0, 0', connected by the frame 0 move in unison in either direction, and when moved take with them the threaded sleeves 11 a causing the latter, by means of their respective links and clutch blocks to be thrown into engagement with either of the wheelsfif', and therebycause rotation of the operating shaft e in one or the other direction to relieve the pressure upon or set together the rolls of the machine; that in whatever direction the shaft is rotated the sleeves n a are rotated in the same direction causing the clutch releasing members 0, 0, which are non-rotatable to be moved longitudinally in one or the other direction accordingto the direction of rotation of the shaft and sleeves; that so long as the clutch releasing members are free to travel on their threaded sleeves the rotation of the operating shaft continues, but that as soon as the movement of the clutch releasing members is stopped the sleeves on which they are threaded must necessarily be moved owing to the rotation of the one within the other,so that as soon as the movement of the releasing members are stopped the sleeves are moved to disengage the operating shaft from the wheel which has rotatedit to thereby stop the device. It will also be evident that the stops r and r may be adjusted to always stop the device at the same point or after the operating shaft has made a predetermined number of revolutions, so that the pressure with which the rolls are set together will always necessarily remain the same, the devices automatically stopping after the required pressure has been created.

By this device a single person can set the rolls of the calendering machine together with any desiredpressu re, greater even than could possibly be created by the combined strength of two or more persons exerted upon the hand wheel b and in much less time than by hand, and the quantity of web which is necessarily runoif and wasted before the rolls can be set together at the requisite pressure after the machine has been started,is consequently re duced to a minimum, andin fact is inapprociable, for the device operates so quickly that the rolls are set together almost immediately upon starting the machine. a A

The wheels fif', with their flanges h, h, and the clutch blocks with their connecting parts constitute the co-operating members of the clutch device, shown as and preferably a friction device.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a slightly modified construction, embodying, however, the same principle of operation as in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. Referring to said Fig. 6, the operating shaft 8 is itself threaded, as shown; to co-operate with the non-rotatable clutch releasing members 8, .9 connected to move in unison by a frame as in the construction Figs. 1 to 5. The sliding sleeves s 5 which actuate the toggle links and the clutch are mounted to slide upon the exteriors of the releasing mem bers 3, 8' the latter at their inner ends having suitable lugs, as to engage the sleeves s s, as will be described.

The operation of the construction Fig. 6, is as followsz-Assuming the wheelsfand f to be rotating in opposite directions, if the sleeves s ,s ,be moved to the left, the direction of rotation of the gear wheel f will be communi cated to the shaft .9, rotation of the said shaft in the direction of the wheelf causing the releasing members s',s to travel to the right until the lug s on the member s strikes the sleeve 8 mounted upon such member and moves the latter to disengage it from its wheel f and stop rotation of the shaft. If the sleeves s 3 are moved to the right Fig. 6, the sleeve 5 is thrown into engagement with the gear wheelf and the rotation ofthe latter communicated to the shaft 8, such rotation of the shaft causing the releasing members 3, to travel to the left until the lug s on the IIC member s strikes the sleeve 3 mounted upon such member and moves the latter to disengage it from the wheelfand stop rotation of the shaft.

The lugs s are made adjustable on the members s, 3 so as to vary the number of revolutions of the operating shaft before the latter is stopped.

This invention is not restricted to the particular device herein shown as the same may, so far as details are concerned, be varied in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention for the same may be varied, as illustrated by the single modification Fig. 6, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention involved. Neither is the invention limited in its use to any particular class of work for its operation and utility are the same Whatever use the-created pressure is put to.

It is evident sheets of paper or stock rather than a Web may be passed between the rolls if desired.

In the claims I have used the terms actuating and releasing members, the term actuating member so used including one of the sleeves n or u and the term releasing member so used including one of the sleeves 0 or o.

I claim 1. A device of the class described containing the following instrumentalities, vizz-an operating shaft rotatable in either direction at will; a clutch mechanism to stop and start said shaft; a clutch actuating member to release said clutch mechanism; a clutch releasing member connected with and moved by rotation of said shaft; connections between said actuating member and releasing member permitting the latter when unobstructed to be moved by said shaft relatively to the former; and a stop to obstruct movement of said releasing member and thereby through its said connection with said actuating member cause relative movement of the latter to automatically release said clutch mechanism to stop rotation of said operating shaft, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described containing the following instrumentalities, viz:-an operating shaft rotatable in either direction at will; a manually controlled clutch mechanism to stop and start said shaft; a longitudinally movable threaded actuating member rotatable with said shaft and to release said clutch mechanism; a longitudinally movable non-rotatable threaded releasing member in threaded engagement with said actuating member; and a stop to check longitudinal movement of said releasing member to thereby cause longitudinal movement of said actuating member to release said clutch mechanism, substantially as described.

3. An operating shaft, oppositely rotating clutch members loosely journaled thereupon, longitudinally movable threaded sleeves on and rotatable with said shaft, co-operating clutch members actuated thereby, combined with non-rotatable clutch releasing members threaded on said sleeves and movable longitudinally therewith, and stops to check the movement of said releasing members to thereby cause disengaging movement of said sleeves, substantially as described.

4. An operating shaft, oppositely rotating clutch members journaled thereupon, combined with co-operating clutch members on and rotatable with said shaft, sliding sleeves connected with and'to control the engagement of said clutch members to cause rotation of said shaft in one or the other direction at will, and non-rotatable clutch releasing members threaded upon said sleeves, and adjustable stops to stop longitudinal or sliding movement of said members and thereby cause movement of said sleeves to thereby stop rotation of the shaft, substantially as described.

5. An operating shaft, the wheels f, f, loosely journaled thereupon and provided with outwardly turned flanges, the sleeves m, m, provided with guide arms, clutch blocks movable in said arms, and threaded sleeves to actuate said clutch blocks, clutch releasing members threaded upon said outer sleeves and connections whereby said members are moved in unison and adjustable stops to cooperate with said members, all to operate substantially as described.

6. An operating shaft, a wheelflooselyjournaled thereupon and provided with a flange h, combined with the sleeve m provided with guide-arms, clutch blocks mounted therein and having inclined faces m and rolls interposed between said faces and flange, the threaded sleeve n toggle links connecting the same with and to spread said clutch blocks, the releasing member 0, and an adjustable stop for the same, to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK A. LITTLEFIELD.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, AUGUSTA E. DEAN.

IIO. 

